Endocrine Abstracts

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and systemic chemotherapy is the major treatment strategy for late-stage HCC patients. Poor prognosis following chemotherapy is the general outcome owing to recurrent resistance. Recent studies have suggested that in addition to cytotoxic effects on tumor cells, chemotherapy can induce an alternative cascade that supports tumor growth and metastasis. In the present investigation, we sh...

Introduction: CLOCK system is a highly conserved, ubiquitous molecular ‘clock’ which creates internal circadian rhythmicity under the influence of light/dark information. CLOCK system is regulated by the coordinated activation/inactivation of several transcription factors, including the CLOCK, the BMAL1 and other essential regulators, such as the Pers, Crys and RORs. The present study aimed to evaluate the circadian rhythm of clock-related genes expressed in patients...

Introduction: Since 2012, different heterozygous mutations in the THRA gene have been described in patients with resistance to thyroid hormone alpha (RTHα). The associating symptoms are reminiscent of untreated congenital hypothyroidism (growth retardation, psycho-neuromotor disorders, delayed bone development and bradycardia) but with raised T3/T4 ratio and normal TSH levels. All genetic abnormalities act in a dominant negative (DN) manner against functional rec...

Endometrial cancer (EC) is estrogen dependent and several enzymes control the local availability of these steroids by activating (i.e. aromatase, sulfatase, 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 – HSD17B1) or deactivating estrogens (sulfotransferase, 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 – HSD17B2). Imbalances in these enzymes are implied in EC development.In the present study, it is evaluated whether imbalances in these enzymes are a...

Introduction: Dysregulated glucocorticoid (GC) metabolism has been implicated in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD extends from simple steatosis, to inflammation (steatohepatitis/NASH), fibrosis and consequent cirrhosis. It is often regarded as the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome and is independently associated with increased liver and cardiovascular mortality. Changes in GC metabolism have thus far been described in small num...

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the hepatic manifestation of the global epidemic of metabolic disease. Steroid hormones, including glucocorticoids and sex steroids, regulate metabolic phenotype, and in addition, bile acids have recently been identified as potent metabolic regulators. 5β-reductase (AKR1D1) is predominantly expressed in the liver and is a crucial regulator of steroid hormone clearance as well as bile acid synthesis. Its role in pathogenesis of metaboli...

Estrogen, through its receptors, plays an important role in regulation of spermatogenesis. The importance of estrogen is highlighted with the reports that environmental estrogens have deleterious effects on spermatogenesis and have been associated with declining sperm counts in men. Although estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) have been localised in the seminiferous epithelium; their precise roles are yet unclear as in vivo estradiol treatment would signal thro...

Luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are two glycoprotein hormones regulating development and reproduction. Despite binding the same receptor (LHCGR), they elicit different intracellular signaling. In vitro non-equivalence of hCG and LH was previously demonstrated in human primary granulosa cells. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of LH and hCG in mouse primary Leydig cells in vitro, naturally expressing the murine rec...

Previous studies have indicated that targeted depletion of Bmp8 in mice can cause the reduction of germ cells in the postnatal testis and this further leads to male infertility, indicative of its importance in the maintenance of spermatogenesis. However, except the genetic impacts, no direct signaling pathway of BMP8 in cells has been interpreted in vitro due to the lack of functional BMP8 proteins. To solve this, we firstly generated different constructs for...

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate salivary androgen measurements via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry as a non-invasive tool for the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the assessment of metabolic health.Methods: Saliva and serum samples of 274 patients with PCOS fulfilling Rotterdam criteria and 51 BMI-matched, premenopausal, healthy controls were analysed for steroid hormones using liquid chromatography/mass spectro...